- Gretchen, a young photograph developer working for the police force in the 1940s, tries to prove her value to the team by catching the killer on her own. However, her blinding ambition causes her to be careless, ultimately forcing her to decide if she really has what it takes to be a detective.
- Gretchen Reynolds is a young woman working as a crime photograph developer in the 1940s. She has dreams of working her way up to becoming a detective, and with a serial killer on the loose, decides to ask the lead detective for the chance to prove herself on the case. However, he rejects her proposal, telling her to stick to what she knows. As she starts to take matters into her own hands, she runs into a suspicious neighbor who matches the description of the criminal the police are trying to catch. Gretchen investigates the lead by breaking into his apartment while he's away, but struggles to find evidence to support her theory. She fails to leave before he returns home, and in an act of self-defense, shoots the man. Only afterward does she realize that he was innocent, and she is faced with the idea that maybe she isn't cut out for detective work after all. Her next move is her own-- does she confess to her crime, or become a criminal on the run?
- Gretchen Reynolds is a young woman working as a crime scene photograph developer for the police in the 1940s. While she enjoys the quiet isolation of her work, she longs for the opportunity to one day become a detective. She stands in the darkroom, developing photographs from the most recent crime; a serial killer with a distinctive snake tattoo on his arm. A crowd of eager detectives swarms Gretchen as she enters the police station with the developed pictures. She is quickly rescued by Dorothy, a chipper blonde coworker who is more interested in office romances than the case. When they reach the end of the hallway, they meet the Lead Detective, who calls Gretchen into his office to discuss the case. He is disappointed by the poor quality of the photographs, which Gretchen uses as an opportunity to make herself an asset to the team; if she were allowed to take the photographs herself, she could guarantee quality pictures. However, the Lead Detective rejects her proposal, telling her to stick to what she knows. Gretchen leaves the police station in defeat and goes home to her small apartment. Her neighbor comes home with a young woman, who appears uncomfortable. He doesn't notice Gretchen, and she slips into her room after they go into theirs. Once inside the safety of her home, she pulls out the photograph of the snake tattoo and pins it to her wall. As she drifts to sleep, Gretchen hears a crash from her neighbor's apartment. She runs to the door to see what's happening, and her neighbor exits his room and walks down the stairs. Before he leaves, Gretchen catches a glimpse of a tattoo on his forearm; the same one in the picture on her wall. When she calls to tell the lead detective what she found, Gretchen is told once again to stick to the pictures, and without any evidence, there's nothing the police can do. She hangs up the phone, and grabs her camera, ready to find the evidence to support her story. Before she leaves her apartment, she turns back and grabs a handgun from her drawer. In the suspect's apartment, Gretchen finds a broken shelf, and a rope hanging from a table. As she lines up the photograph, her neighbor returns home. Still convinced he is the killer, Gretchen draws her gun. The man tries to talk her down, but moves towards her; she pulls the trigger. Gretchen walks over to the man's body and pulls up his sleeve; the tattoo is of an anchor. Realizing that she killed an innocent man, Gretchen runs back to her apartment and breaks down. Through the walls, she hears the woman return home to her dead husband, and at that moment, Gretchen decides to run away. As she frantically packs her bags, the telephone rings; the lead detective is calling to tell her that the man with the snake tattoo is in custody and that she needs to return to the station immediately. After a beat, Gretchen responds that she's on her way. The police station is bustling with excitement over their recent victory, as the detective walks up to Dorothy, asking if Gretchen has come in yet. She shakes her head. Gretchen stands on a train station platform, bag in hand. The train whistle blows as it approaches the platform.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content